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Aviation History
1915
1915 - 0745.PDF
OCTOBER I, 1915. l/yoBf] NOTES ON ACETYLENE WELDING. IT is interesting to consider how the development of one industry affects others of a subsidiary nature which, superficially at all events, seem to be not in the least directly concerned. Thus, in the case of the growth of the aeronautical industry, it is found that not only is a stimulus given to such obviously allied crafts as the manufacture of petrol engines, special fabrics, dopes, &c, &c, but so far-reaching are the effects that they have been felt even by the producers of calcium carbide and acetylene gas. At first sight the connection between these and aviation is obscure, but it is safe to say that much of the recent progress in the art and science of autogenous welding is due to its application to the building and repairing of aeroplanes, and it is exactly here that the connection arises. For modern welding acetylene is almost indispensable, owing to certain advantages the oxy-acetylene process possesses over the older systems, employing hydrogen or coal as. At the same time, for aeroplane parts into the impurities, such as sulphur, phosphorus and ammonia, are and must of necessity be removed, since it is im possible to compress acetylene into the porous material— acetone—unless it is first thoroughly freed from these deleterious substances. A further advantage of the high-pressure system is that a nearly perfect intimacy of mixture of the two gases can be delivered at the nozzle of the blow-pipe, while the adjustment of the flame, once set, remains correct. For this reason it is simpler in use than the low-pressure system, and to a large extent discounts any lack of individual skill possessed by the operator. Naturally, dissolved acetylene is more expensive than that produced by a generator, but, on the other hand, it not only possesses the foregoing advantages, but because of them also gives a higher working efficiency. The Acetylene Illuminating Co., Ltd., of 268 and 270, South Lambeth Road, S.W., are, of course, the makers of dissolved acetylene, and it is interesting to record that VIEWS OF THE ACETYLENE ILLUMINATING CO.'S WORKS.—1. Interior of compressing; works, where the cylinders are charged. 2. Cylinder finishing department. ^3. Cylinder welding department. making of which the art of welding has entered, it is essential that the quality of the work should be of an altogether superior description to that which might con ceivably be considered good enough in ordinary practice, and as the quality of the work depends upon the purity of the gases to possibly even a greater degree than skill of the workman, so it is that the producing of pure acetylene and improvements in the manufacture of car bide have assumed a higher degree of importance. There are two distinct systems of oxy-acetylene welding in vogue at the present time—one known as the low- pressure system, where the acetylene is delivered to the blow-pipe at a pressure approximately atmospheric from a generator exactly similar in principle to those used for headlights on cars; and the other the high-pressure system, where the gas is contained in a compressed state in cylinders containing a porous material. Both are capable of good work, but the high-pressure system from dissolved acetylene is preferable for such really important work as the construction and repair of aeroplane parts on account of its absolute purity. In the manufacture of dissolved acetylene the gas is generated in the ordinary manner, in bulk, and before being pumped into the cylinders is thoroughly washed, dried and purified. All this firm were the pioneers of the oxy-acetylene process of autogenous welding, the high pressure system being that first in use, while the low pressure system in its various types has since been evolved from it. This was in 1901, when the use of compressed acetylene was made possible in this country by an exemption from the Order in Council. Though now the actual makers of both high and low pressure plants, this firm strongly advocate the former for all clases of work where great strength in the weld is of consequence. It is found that as a general rule the tensile strength of a joint welded by this system is about 9s; per cent, of the original in steel plates up to ^ in. thick, while even for plates i£ in. thick the figure is in the neighbourhood of 80 per cent. Some idea of the immense development in the application of high pressure oxy-acetylene welding since its introduction may be gathered from the fact that several thousands of cubic feet of dissolved acetylene are supplied daily to the Tyne, Clyde and Irish shipyards and Admiralty dockyards for this purpose; while other large users are found among the great railway companies, tramway authorities, motor manufacturers, engineering concerns of all classes, and, now, the most important firms connected with the building of aircraft. 745
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